Watershed Planning

Local Water Resource Planning Assistance and Guidance

The Council reviews and comments on the watershed plans prepared by watershed management organizations as well as local water management prepared by local units of government as a component of their local comprehensive plans. In addition, the Council provides guidance and technical assistance to counties, cities, and towns on issues relating to water resources.

Introduction to Metropolitan Water Planning - The basics of Twin Cities water planning. What's the difference is between a watershed management organization and a watershed district? What's in a local surface water management plan?

Local Plan Requirements - The surface water section of the Local Planning Handbook summarizes the Council's requirements for developing a local surface water management plan.

Planning Assistance - Need help with your local water plan? The Council provides technical assistance to counties, cities, and towns on issues relating to water resources.

Stormwater Controls - Watershed and local surface water management plans are required to propose corrective actions including structural, nonstructural, and administrative stormwater controls. The Council's nonpoint pollution and BMP page is an excellent information resource for developing an implementation program.

Individual Sewage Treatment System Management and Tracking Database - The ISTS Management & Tracking Database Application provides local governments an efficient means of managing the on-site individual sewage treatment systems (i.e., septic systems) located in their jurisdiction.

Model Stormwater Management Ordinance - This model stormwater management ordinance was developed to assist communities with implementing the Council's Interim Strategy to Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution. The ordinance addresses design standards for stormwater ponds, the use of best management practices, and adoption of the Minnesota DNR shoreland regulations. Available in (PDF) or (Word)

Financing Local Water Resource Management - Are you looking for ways to fund water planning and management activities? The Council's funding and grants page contains information about financing options and grant programs for water planning and management.

Local Water Management Web Sites - This page provides links to local TCMA watershed management home pages. These sites provide contact information, reports, and online versions of their watershed management plan.

Regional Water Resource Planning

The Council is responsible for regional water resource planning for the Twin Cities metropolitan area. This includes developing strategies for managing point and nonpoint source pollution and water supply planning for the seven-county, Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Who's Who in Water Resource Management - A list and description of the role of the major federal, state, and regional agencies involved in water resource management for the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.

Water Resources Management Policy Plan - Online linkage to the Council's Water Resources Management Policy Plan. This plan describes the Council's role in water management. It identifies strategies that are fundamental for preventing pollution, ensuring clean, available water, and providing cost-effective, environmentally sound wastewater services.

Water Supply Planning - The Metropolitan Council is responsible for planning for the regional water supply for the seven-county metropolitan region . This page provides links to information about regional water demand, surface water protection efforts and other facts about the water supply.

Impaired Waters- To achieve water quality goals adopted in the Regional Development Framework and the Water Resources Management Policy Plan, the Metropolitan Council is providing technical assistance to help in the development of total maximum daily pollutant loading studies for impaired waters of the metropolitan area. This page provides information on impaired waters and the total maximum daily load project.